iPhone 16 Pro metal-wrapped battery & better cooling confirmed by teardown

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone

A teardown has proven that Apple has used a new metal battery casing in the iPhone 16 Pro, with the model also benefiting from chassis changes that will help thermally manage the device's internals.

Tool unscrewing a component inside an open smartphone, exposing internal parts like the camera module and Taptic Engine.
The new stainless steel battery in the iPhone 16 Pro [YouTube/Rewa Technology]]



An inevitable part of the iPhone launch is the teardown, and the iPhone 16 generation is no different. Shortly after its release, the iPhone 16 Pro has been taken apart and inspected internally, revealing changes to Apple's design.

The teardown by Rewa Technology posted to YouTube involves a fairly standard disassembly of the iPhone 16 Pro. After heating the rear and separating the glass backing, the engineer had access to the internals as normal.

The first change spotted was the battery, which, just as rumored, has a shiny steel casing which is affixed with adhesive pads. This differs from the previous battery casings, which could help enhance heat dissipation compared to previous generations.

Curiously, the video claims the metal battery enclosure is limited only to the iPhone 16 Pro model.



The TrueDepth camera assembly is similar in construction to the iPhone 15 Pro's version, except it is smaller due to differently arranged cables. The rear camera assembly is larger, in part because of the bigger elements for the telephoto camera.

The motherboard used inside the iPhone 16 Pro is also smaller than its predecessor, with a new and more densely packed arrangement. A protection cover is larger in the new model, which may also help with heat dissipation.

Disassembled smartphone showing individual components, including screen, camera, battery, circuit boards, and numerous smaller parts, all arranged in a neat layout on a dark surface.
The fully-disassembled iPhone 16 Pro [YouTube/Rewa Technology]



The display is shown to be physically larger than the old model, though also having thinner bezels and a smaller screen frame. The Camera Control button, new to the casing, is a non-removable element laser welded to the chassis.

With all components removed, the new chassis layout is revealed. There's a new graphite-clad aluminum substructure, which again could assist with thermals as well as rigidity.




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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    apple4thewinapple4thewin Posts: 234member
    Does this mean it is also easier to disassemble or harder than the 15 Pro models?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 7
    thttht Posts: 5,620member
    apple4thewin said:
    Does this mean it is also easier to disassemble or harder than the 15 Pro models?
    It looks to be about the same level of work imo. You need to have experience doing it, or you are willing to toss the device away in case of a mistake. 

    Curious about the iPhone 16 models, where applying current to the battery case will loosen the adhesive. What adhesive are they using? Does it always work? Are there situations to cause the battery to debond without applying voltage?
    Alex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 7
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,919member
    I love how Apple designs the inside of their products to look as good as the outside. A great feat of proper engineering and just shows the great lengths Apple goes when designing its products, even if it's something most customers will never see. 
    edited September 21 thtwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 7
    eriamjheriamjh Posts: 1,735member
    apple4thewin said:
    Does this mean it is also easier to disassemble or harder than the 15 Pro models?
    Easier than ever.  
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 7
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 4,006member
    Was it stainless or simply steel? Stainless is much more expensive and less thermally conductive than standard steel, and both are heavier less thermally conductive than aluminum. I wonder if the real reason is safety in case of a thermal runaway by the battery. In any case (pun intended,) how much heat is generated by the battery vs other components? And if we're worried about heat dissipation, why not address the elephant in the case - the glass back with a foam pad on it. Both of these will do far more to inhibit heat dissipation than the battery case.

    Edit: it's possible that battery heating  became an issue with the faster wireless charging. A metal case has significant costs both in terms of weight and cost so it's not something they would have done without a good reason.
    edited September 22 watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 7
    michelb76michelb76 Posts: 682member
    tht said:
    Does this mean it is also easier to disassemble or harder than the 15 Pro models?
    It looks to be about the same level of work imo. You need to have experience doing it, or you are willing to toss the device away in case of a mistake. 

    Curious about the iPhone 16 models, where applying current to the battery case will loosen the adhesive. What adhesive are they using? Does it always work? Are there situations to cause the battery to debond without applying voltage?
    some info here: https://www.ifixit.com/News/100352/we-hot-wired-the-iphone-16
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 7
    kdupuis77kdupuis77 Posts: 148member
    tht said:
    Does this mean it is also easier to disassemble or harder than the 15 Pro models?
    It looks to be about the same level of work imo. You need to have experience doing it, or you are willing to toss the device away in case of a mistake. 

    Curious about the iPhone 16 models, where applying current to the battery case will loosen the adhesive. What adhesive are they using? Does it always work? Are there situations to cause the battery to debond without applying voltage?
    That is some seriously cool tech right there! Hopefully this will improve and spread to the Pro line and all their other devices in the near future! Man, if they could design an iPhone itself that could perform the same just imagine how much easier repair would be. Here are some details and the iFixit video explaining it:

    https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/22/24251327/iphone-16-teardown-repair-battery-adhesive
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6jBXI6CR9s
    watto_cobra
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